In Heb. 12:1-4 there is a call for what we might call “self-discipline.” We need to run our race, not stumbling over sin, and not giving a thought to the shame and contempt the world has for us as we follow Christ. In Heb. 12:5-12 the issue is “the chastening/discipline of the Lord.” We should despise or think little of the shame, as Jesus did; but we should not think little of the Lord’s discipline. We should give it serious consideration, lest we forget that His rebuke in our lives is normal (12:7) and needed (12:8). And, it is proof of His “fatherly love” for us (12:9-11).
Remember the context
of this letter. The Hebrew Christians
were experiencing severe persecution.
They wanted to get rid of the hurt by returning to the empty religion of
the temple. They needed to consider the
value of the suffering, rather than stumbling over “the sin which so easily ensnares
us.”
The Lord gives us an
example of one who despised the Lord’s chastening: Esau! The thing about Esau is that he was in a
similar situation to the Hebrew believers.
He had one chance to get it right.
When his father Isaac had already blessed Jacob, Esau needed to
acknowledge his own sin in despising the birthright and selling it to Jacob for
lunch (Gen. 25:29-34). Even more, Esau needed
to acknowledge God’s word (Gen. 25:22-23), that the elder son (Esau) would
serve the younger (Jacob). Esau, the
tough hunter and pride of his father, broke down in tears before Isaac (Gen.
27:30-40). Esau rejected God’s word and
vowed to kill Jacob rather than to submit to Jacob (Gen. 27:41). As Heb. 12:17 says, there was no repentance,
no going back on his having sold the birthright, even though he was in tears
about it.
What would it mean
to the Hebrew believers, if they were to recognize that their trials were the
work of a loving Father, chastening them so that they might experience the “peaceable
fruit of righteousness”?
·
12:12: First, they needed to strengthen
themselves. They were weakened from
discouragement. They needed to look to
Jesus, by prayer and the word they needed to be strong in the Lord and the
power of His might.
·
12:13: They needed to acknowledge the sinful
thoughts and attitudes and actions over which they were stumbling, and clear
them out of the path. If we don’t do
this the chastening will not build us up but will tear us down.
·
12:14: They needed to change their approach to
their neighbors who were making their lives difficult. As part of being followers of Christ they
needed to seek peace instead of treating them as enemies.
·
12:15: They needed to watch out lest someone in
the fellowship become set in his decision to return. This person is not living by grace but by the
flesh. The religion of works is
extremely infectious, appealing to the pride of others.
How we need to hear these things. May we use our trials to love those around
us, for the glory of Christ and the proclamation of His gospel.
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